Comments on: Ivory Auctions A Disservice to Conservation

By: Baraza » Elephant killings and ivory trade alarm bells

Baraza » Elephant killings and ivory trade alarm bells — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:23:14 +0000

[...] Renowned conservationist Richard Leakey expresses concern and calls it a disservice to conservation [...]

By: amy

amy — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:12:34 +0000

I am disappointed to see that my blog has been deleted because perhaps my view was not 100% against this sale. I was writing to ask a real question and find some real answers and i am disappointed i found none. I am field scientist and I have been to Kenya and I have seen some places where conservation is not in the best interest of the local people. I want to know why a resource such as ivory cannot be successfully managed to the countries benefit. All countries have resources that are unique and can be a huge boon to the economy. I just don’t know why they had to sell to the biggest black market dealers out there, and why how would a market closed to only China and Japan create the results they were looking for. That is unbelievable. It seems this could have been organized in a manner to benefit conservation. Of course I am not encouraging poaching, but there needs to be a way to create wealth in these countries in a way to completely discourage the practice. I am looking for serious responses to my questions… not to be deleted because i seem to disagree.

By: Global Voices in Italiano » Sudafrica: avorio all’asta va contro la tutela ambientale

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:39:42 +0000

[...] suo blog, Richard Leaky [in] scrive dei timori a proposito delle aste d’avorio in corso in Sudafrica. “… Penso che [...]

By: amy

amy — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:00:53 +0000

I don’t understand why these countries would choose to utilize a resource by selling to countries which are clearly involved in illegal trade. It seems fair to me that these countries should be able to benefit from a resource they are blessed to have, especially when tourist revenues are dropping and the park services are suffering. It just seems unfortunate how the profit will be poorly allocated and that governments are knowingly allowing criminals to purchase something so special as a commodity… anyone that understands let me know:)

By: Global Voices Online » Environment: Ivory Auctions A Disservice to Conservation

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:49:58 +0000

[...] Richard Leakey blogs about his concern regarding ivory auctions in South Africa. “…I believe that auctioning the ivory stockpiles would cause poaching to increase particularly in the central, eastern and western African elephant range states where poaching is not yet properly controlled.” Posted by Juliana Rotich Print Version Share This [...]

By: Baraza » Elephant poacher convicted in Cameroon, but I am not celebrating

Baraza » Elephant poacher convicted in Cameroon, but I am not celebrating — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:43:01 +0000

[...] recent CITES decision to allow ivory trade auctions has as Richard Leakey says in his latest blog post, “done conservation a great disservice”. Once again ivory [...]

By: Masubulu

Masubulu — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:17:19 +0000

Dear Dr.

I read your letter with regard to the elephants auction with a lot of attention. Ia pretty concern about this problems. I seriously think we should come together as one person and stop this ill treatment to elephants.

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:15:27 +0000

This is such a mess! I really hope that this will stop but know that there are idiots out there that want to do harm to these magnificent creatures!!!!!!

By: Patrick D. Webb

Patrick D. Webb — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:00:54 +0000

I am Patrick D. Webb, President of the National Wildlife Humane Society. I am also Founder/Director of Top of the Rock Wildlife Sanctuary.

I agree 100% with Dr Leakey. Flooding the market with stockpiled ivory perpetuates and increases development of ivory based businesses. Ivory finished goods businesses emerge where they were none before, and expands the existing blackmarket.

Once surplus ivory has been all sold, those expanded old (and new) ivory businesses need more ivory to fill the void of the exhausted auctioned supplied ivory, and poaching becomes more profitable than ever. The demand is then dramatically increased.

Auctioning stockpiled ivory is a bad idea.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:12:44 +0000

Well put Daktari this is a disservice to conservation.They have roled back the gain that had been made in elephant conservation.